Radiator shutter



RADIATOR SHUTTER Filed Aug. 31, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 82x 5.BE/SE'L By I A ORNEY May 28, 1929. R. B. BEISEL 1,714,842

v RADIATOR SHUTTER Filed Aug. 31, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORPatented May 28, 1929.

REX B. BEISEL. OF EAST HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CUBTISS AERO-IPLANE & MOTOR COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RADIATOR SHUTTER.

Application filed August a1, 1926. Serial' No. 132,665.

My invention relates to aircraft and is more particularly concerned withan aeroplane radiator shutter.

An object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane rudder shutterwhich, in all POSI- tions of adjustment, is so related to theradiator asto decrease its head resistance or drag.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a radiator shutterfor aircraft, separate relatively movableshutter pieces and an operatingmechanism therefor; the shutter pieces being simultaneously graduallymovable from a normal open position, one each at opposite sides of theradiator, to a closed position at substantially a' right angle thereto,the shutter pieces, when closed, being extended across said radiator toprovide thereby a barrier against the passage of air.

A still further objectof the invention is to provide, in an aeroplane, aradiator and a radiator shutter, the former being cowled in,

and said cowl having formed therein an open-- ing; and the. latter, theshutter, being so organized and constructed as to provide, when closed,a closure for said opening which constitutes, in effect, an actual partof said cowl.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter setforth.

In the rawings, wherein like reference characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the forward portion of an aeroplane havinginstalled thereon a radiator and a radiator shutter such as the presentinvention contemplates;

' Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of the radiatorshutter and its operating mechanism Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33of Fig. 2; the dotted lines indicating the positionof the shutter pieceswith the shutter completely closed, and

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the radiator shutter, wide open.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, anaeroplane of more or less conventional design is shown. plane'compliisesthe usual fuselage or body 10, supporting surfaces 11-11, landing gear12, and motor mount 13, the latter including spaced engine bearers Il-14 upon which the motor (not shown) is supported at and within theforward end of the fuselage. Instead of mounting the radiator at theextreme forward end of the fuselage, as is the common Such aero--practice in aeroplane design, the radiator,

designated as 15,is shown mounted beneath I the engine bearers l t-14and from where it is suspended by any suitable means. Thus positioned,the radiator 15 may be adequately streamline thru the use of cowling 16which may or may not be formed in sections as shown. This cowling 16 isadapted to completely enclose, not only the radiator 15 but the radiatorshutter and its operating mechanism as well. As indicated in Fig. 2, theradiator shutter is preferably mounted forwardly of the radiator and isso organized and constructed as to constitute, with, the shutter closed,an actual part of the cowling 16 with in which it (the shutter) andtheradiator 15 g are both completely enclosed.

' In the backwardly and downwardly inclined and transversely roundedportion ofthe cowling 16 an opening 17 is formed. This opening 17 ispreferably so related to the radiator 15 as to admit of the air flowthereto and therethru when the shutter, designated in its entirety as18, is open. By closing said shutter the air ordinarily entering thrusaid opening 17 is shut OH and the steam line of the cowl 16 finishedoff. As a cowl support, and also as a support for the shutter 18, framepieces 19,20, 21 and 22 are provided, the former, said frame pieces 19and 20 being hung or suspended from the motor mount 13.

-As distinguished from the Venetian blind type of radiator shutterheretofore commonly used, the radiator shutter 18 comprisesbut twoshutter pieces 23-23. These shutter pieces 23 are preferably arcuatelyformed'in transverse section and are disposed, within the cowling, oneeach at opposite sides of and slightly in advance of the radiator 15.Thus positioned, said radiator pieces, while they act to'streamline theradiator to a slight extent, do not, to any appreciable extent,interfere with the air flow therethru. At their top and bottom edges,said shutter pieces 23-23 are reinforced by out-turned flanges 24 asshown.

' As a support for the shutter pieces 2323, a rod or shaft 25 isprovided. This shaft 25, in the arrangement shown, is inclined to thevertical as indicated in Fig. 2 and is located in the longitudinalvertical plane of the machine. At its opposite ends it is adjustably.supported by extension pieces 2626 fas tened respectively to'the framemembers 19 and 20. Thus supported it (the shutter) may be adjustedbodily toward and away from the opening 17 formed in the cowling 16.

Mounted on the shaft 25, intermediately of its ends, are four pairs ofarms 27, two of said pairs of arms being grouped at one end of saidshaft and-the remaining two similarly grouped at the opposite end.- Onepair of arms of each said group extend right and left in divergingrelation to support at their outer ends the shutter pieces 23, and attheir inner ends each said pair of arms has formed thereon a collar 28thru which the shaft 25 extends. In this way the shutter pieces 23-23are similarly and adequately supported. By moving said armssimultaneously from the full line position indicated in Fig. 3, to thedotted line position therein indicated, the shutter pieces 2323 aresimilarly moved from a wide open to a compltely closed position. Whilethe shutter pieces 2323 are curved in transverse sec tion, the curvaturein eachinstance, instead of being described from the axis of the shaft25 as a center is of a radius corresponding to that of the forwardtransverse curvature of the cowling 16. Being thus formed, said shutterpieces 2323, when completely closed, not only completely close theopening 17 in the cowlin but they merge substantially uninterruped lyinto the transverse curvature thereof as indicated in Fig. 3.

The operating mechanism for the shutter 18 includes a control lever 29and a quadrant 30 confined to the cockpit space provided in the machine.From the control lever 29 a rod 31 extends forwardly for connection withone arm 32 of a suitable bell crank having duplicate opposite armspositioned one each at opposite sides of the machine. From these latterarms, designated as 33-33, separate rods 34 extend forwardly within thespace enclosed by the cowling 16. At their respective forward ends therods 34 are each connected with suitable linkage 35 duplicated atopposite sides of the machine, which linkage (see Figs. 2 andd) is inturn connected, one each with suitable cross-frame members 36 providedfor the shutter pieces 2323. By exerting either a push or pull on thecontrol lever 29 the shutter pieces 23-23 are either simultaneouslymoved toward or away from the cowl opening 17 to shutter or'unshutterthe radiator as desired. Moreover, as a means for yieldingly resistingthe backward movement of the shutter pieces 2323, springs 37 may beprovided, one for each shutter piece,

said springs being fastened to the shutter pieces 23-23 and to the shaft25.

A radiator shutter characterized as above set forth, regardless of itsposition of adjustment, offers but little resistance compared to anunshuttered radiator of the dimensions required. It not only fairs inthe radiator amass-a is'so organized and constructed as to admit of anydegree of opening desired. When com- I pletely closed, the shutter 18enters into and forms an integral part of the radiator cowling, and whenopened, the spaced shutter pieces tend to direct the air flow thru theradiator.

lVhile l have described my invention in detail in its present preferredembodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art afterunderstanding my invention, that various changes and modifications maybe made therein without departing from the spiritor scope thereof. I aimin the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes.

What I claim is:

l. The combination, in an aeroplane, of a motor mount, a radiatorsupported beneath the motor mount, cowling within which'the radiator isenclosed, said cowling having formed therein, on the underside thereof,an opening, a radiator shutter enclosed within said cowling and movableto cover and un-' cover said opening, a support for the radiator carriedby and hung beneath the motor mount behind said opening and within saidcowling, and mechanism operable to open and close said shutter.

2. The combination, in an aeroplane, of a radiator, cowling within whichthe radiator is enclosed, said cowling having formed therein an opening,a shaft extending crosswise the opening, arms mounted for rotation onsaid shaft and extending radially out therefrom, and arcuate shutterpieces carried by said arms and movable therewith about said shaft as'anaxis to cover and uncover said opening.

3. The combination, in an aeroplane, of; a radiator, cowling withinwhich the radiator is enclosed, said cowling having formed therein anopening, a shaft extending crosswise said opening,arcuate shutter piecescarried by and rotatableabout said shaft to cover and uncover saidopening, and a yielding means for urging said shutter pieces toward aclosed position of adjustment.

4. The combination, in an aeroplane, of a.

radiator, cowling within which the radiator is enclosed, said cowlinghaving formed therein an opening, a shaft extending cross;= wise theopening, arms mounted for rotation on said shaft and extending radiallyout therefrom, arcuate shutter pieces can ried bv said arms and movabletherewith about said shaft, as an axis to cover and uncover saidopening, and a yielding means encircling said shaft and engaging saidarms for urging said shutter pieces toward a closed position ofadjustment.

in testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

REX B. BEISEL.

